Trahaearn ap Caradog (1044–1081) was a
King of Gwynedd. Trahaearn was a son of Caradog ap Gwyn, ruler of
Arwystli (in the south of present-day
Montgomeryshire
Montgomeryshire ( ) was Historic counties of Wales, one of the thirteen counties of Wales that existed from 1536 until their abolishment in 1974. It was named after its county town, Montgomery, Powys, Montgomery, which in turn was named after ...
,
Wales
Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...
), a small state, on the south-western border between Gwynedd and
Powys
Powys ( , ) is a Principal areas of Wales, county and Preserved counties of Wales, preserved county in Wales. It borders Gwynedd, Denbighshire, and Wrexham County Borough, Wrexham to the north; the English Ceremonial counties of England, ceremo ...
. He was born in 1044 in Arwystli, and died in 1081 in Mynydd Carn in
Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire ( ; ) is a Principal areas of Wales, county in the South West Wales, south-west of Wales. It is bordered by Carmarthenshire to the east, Ceredigion to the northeast, and otherwise by the sea. Haverfordwest is the largest town and ...
, at the
Battle of Mynydd Carn.
Accession to the throne of Gwynedd
On the death of
Bleddyn ap Cynfyn in 1075, it appears that none of his sons were old enough to claim the throne, and Bleddyn's cousin Trahaearn ap Caradog, seized power.
The same year
Gruffudd ap Cynan landed on
Anglesey
Anglesey ( ; ) is an island off the north-west coast of Wales. It forms the bulk of the Principal areas of Wales, county known as the Isle of Anglesey, which also includes Holy Island, Anglesey, Holy Island () and some islets and Skerry, sker ...
with an
Irish force and, with the assistance of the
Norman Robert of Rhuddlan, defeated Trahaearn at the
Battle of Gwaed Erw in
Meirionnydd, gaining control of Gwynedd. However tension between Gruffudd ap Cynan's Irish bodyguard and the local
Welsh people
The Welsh () are an ethnic group and nation native to Wales who share a common ancestry, History of Wales, history and Culture of Wales, culture. Wales is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. The majority of people living in Wa ...
led to a rebellion in
Llyn and Trahaearn took the opportunity to counterattack, defeating Gruffudd at the
Battle of Bron yr Erw at
Clynnog Fawr in
Caernarfonshire, also in 1075, forcing him to flee back to Ireland.
[The Eleventh Century – The Normans and the Welsh Princes]
/ref>
In 1078 Caradog ap Gruffydd (Prince of the Kingdom of Gwent) killed Rhys ab Owain of Deheubarth, who had been responsible for the killing of Bleddyn ap Cynfyn, in the Battle of Gwdig or Battle of Goodwick. Caradog ap Gruffydd wanted to take control of Deheubarth like his father and grandfather had done. However Rhys ap Tewdwr, Rhys ab Owain's second cousin, meanwhile had become king of Deheubarth. Rhys ap Tewdwr was forced to flee when Caradog ap Gruffydd invaded Deheubarth in 1081. He sought protection in St Davids at the far southwestern corner of his kingdom.[
]
Downfall and death
Gruffudd ap Cynan returned on a second campaign from Ireland with an army of Danes
Danes (, ), or Danish people, are an ethnic group and nationality native to Denmark and a modern nation identified with the country of Denmark. This connection may be ancestral, legal, historical, or cultural.
History
Early history
Denmark ...
and Irish to become King of Gwynedd. He took his fleet to St Davids and made an alliance with Rhys ap Tewdwr who had recently been ousted as prince of Deheubarth by Caradog ap Gruffydd of Morgannwg. Gruffudd ap Cynan received additional support with backers that came from north Wales. They all agreed to remove Trahaearn ap Caradog from the throne Gwynedd. However, meanwhile, Trahaearn had learned of their plot and secretly formed an alliance with Caradog ap Gruffydd and Meilyr ap Rhiwallon. Trahaearn also obtained Norman arbalesters for additional support for his army. The two enemy armies met at the fierce and bloody Battle of Mynydd Carn north of St Davids. Trahaearn, Caradog and Meilyr were killed. Gruffudd was victorious and became King of Gwynedd. Rhys ap Tewdwr, Gruffudd's ally, once again became King of Deheubarth.[
]
References
Sources
*
* Thomas Jones, ed. (1952) ''Brut y Tywysogion: Peniarth MS. 20 version'' (University of Wales Press)
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Trahaearn ap Caradog
1044 births
Trahaearn ap Caradog, Prince of Gwynedd
Monarchs of Gwynedd
Trahaearn ap Caradog, Prince of Gwynedd
House of Mathrafal
11th-century Welsh monarchs
Year of birth unknown
Monarchs killed in action